White Oak Cemetery

Burial Records

Search burial records for White Oak Cemetery

Cemetery Maps

Links to a map of White Cemetery, and to maps of each cemetery section, are at the bottom of this page.

Cemetery Decorations

Bloomington Parks and Recreation reminds cemetery visitors of the rules and guidelines for grave decorations.

1. Artificial and fresh-cut flowers and wreaths are permitted at all times in the cemetery. They must be firmly attached to the monuments or markers. No decorations may be placed on or anchored to the ground.
2. Shepherd's hooks, in-ground vases and glassware are not permitted at any time. All items must be placed securely on the monument so as not to present a hazard to cemetery workers or visitors.
3. Flags placed in the cemetery the Saturday before Memorial Day will be removed four weeks after the holiday.

Lot Sales

All green burial plots at White Oak Cemetery have been sold, and no more are available. All remaining available lots are traditional burial spaces.

Cemetery Services

NO SERVICES after 4:30 p.m. any day, on Sundays, or on any federal holidays.

Services Provided

Cemetery staff provides opening and closing services only. Opening and closing fees are assessed at the time of burial. We are unable to accept prepayment of these services. Your funeral director will arrange any other services such as canopies, lowering devices, chairs, honor guard, etc.

Bloomington Parks and Recreation is responsible for the general maintenance of the cemetery grounds. Cemetery grounds are well maintained by our professional staff throughout the year. Perpetual care includes mowing, weeding, tree trimming, removal of snow and debris, landscaping of common gardens, and maintenance and disposal of burial decorations.

Lot Owner Responsibilities

The maintenance of all plantings on a cemetery lot is the respponsibility of the lot owner. Maintenance must be performed regularly by owners to ensure healthy, neat, and attractive conditions.

Care and upkeep of monuments, including headstones, shall be the respponsibility of the lot owner. Installation of monuments and headstones shall be by a reputable monument company which shall adhere to specific guidelines as prescribed by Bloomington Parks and Recreation.

Cremation

Ashes may be interred in the ground. Lots can accommodate multiple urns. Urn vaults are not required for ground burials. No additional mausoleum niches are available for purchase.

History

Originally the United Presbyterian Cemetery, White Oak Cemetery was purchased by the City of Bloomington in 1914 and renamed White Oak in 1983.

For most of its history, the White Oak Cemetery was named the United Presbyterian Cemetery. The United Presbyterian Church (or its predecessor, the Associated Reformed Presbyterian Church), was established in 1833 and built at early log church building on this site, which was given to the church by John Blair. The first burial in the adjoining cemetery was probably in 1837 (as stated in the November 1, 1898 issue of the local newspaper, the Republican Progress). This cemetery is thus one of the oldest in the country, having been started only 19 years after Monroe County was organized. Many of the pioneer church members, several being important figures in early Monroe County history, were buried here. These include names such as Fee, Wylie, Bryan, Gourley, Woodburn, and Henderson, important names in Monroe County and United Presbyterian Church history.

An article in the December 22, 1883 Bloomington Telephone notes that a substantial stone fence was placed around the cemetery through the efforts of James Strong. But less than 15 years later an article in the November 1, 1898 issue of the Republican Progess that the trustees of the church had put the cemetery up for sale. The article indicated that the burials had been removed to Rose Hill Cemetery. Many monuments in this cemetery did not immediately sell, as records indicate that the City of Bloomington purchased the property from the church of 1914. The city made improvements to the cemetery in 1982 including re-grading, landscaping, and installation of a new lawn on the east end. They gave the renovated cemetery the name White Oak Cemetery in 1983. The west part of the cemetery is still being used for burials.

An important date in the history of the cemetery was November 3, 1989. On that date the Bloomington Township Trustee, James Dawson, and his advisory board with the support of Bloomington Mayor Tomilea Allison dedicated the Pioneer Memorial. The memorial commemorates early settlers who were buried in small cemeteries that are now lost or destroyed, mostly in the name of "progress". The marker lists names of 132 early settlers buried in small cemeteries in Bloomington township from 1815 to 1947. Dawson also prepared a booklet with the names of people buried in those cemeteries.